Templated Multiwall Polycrystalline MoS₂ Nanotubes with Tunable S-Vacancies for High-Performance H₂ Evolution Reaction

As the demand for clean energy intensifies, hydrogen (H₂) emerges as a leading candidate for next-generation energy solutions. Currently, the catalysis for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) predominantly relies on noble metals like platinum, which are scarce and economically unsustainable for large-scale applications. Consequently, there's an urgent need for cost-effective, abundant, and efficient catalysts. MoS₂, a low-cost material, has been identified as a potential platinum substitute due to its ability to significantly reduce overpotential in H₂ production. While 2D MoS₂ has demonstrated promising HER results, its synthesis via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is costly and complex, hindering large-scale production. In this study, we present a novel approach to synthesize templated multiwall polycrystalline MoS₂ nanotubes using hydrothermal methods. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, EDX, and XPS confirmed the successful coating of MoS₂ on Titanate nanofiber surfaces. By controlling sulfur vacancies on the MoS₂ surface, we can modulate the HER performance. Our optimal conditions yielded an overpotential of approximately 280 mV at 10mA cm^-2 with a MoS₂ coating ratio of 1 wt% when treated at 240°C for 5 days.